The Kitzbühel resort is the first non-Glacier ski area to open in Austria, with 179 kilometres of perfectly groomed slopes, 36km of ski routes; 180 ski days throughout the season, romantic mountain huts and cosy hotels. The area is home to the world famous Streif, a spectacular downhill ski race piste. It is easy to see why Kitzbühel is regarded as one of the best ski resort in the world.
Skiers have been attracted to this renowned resort for more than the 120 years, for some of these reasons. Not only is it the first ski area without a glacier to open in Austria, it is snow-sure, with 180 days of skiing.
The charming, historical and stylish Tyrolean resort, with its pretty, walled medieval town, is famous for the Hahnenkamm race, the scariest downhill race on the World Cup Circuit, with its combination of breathtaking jumps, steep slopes, curves, compressions and slope, all open to skiers and snow boarders. It is also host to the Snow Polo World Cup.
Kitzbühel is repeatedly voted the best in the world by skiers. The ski area extends over two provinces and seven municipalities. More than 50 cable cars and lifts enable skiers to enjoy a fantastic choice of slopes, ski routes and deep snow right up to 2,000 metres above sea level.
And for powder fans, it's a dream come through, for off-piste skiers and boarders Kitzbühel offers 36km of marked itineraries. The resort has over 500 instructors across its award-winning ski schools. You can come as a beginner, and hopefully leave having mastered the slopes.
Snowboarders will be impressed by the snow park and whether you enjoy cross-country skiing, moonlight skiing, winter hiking, tobogganing or one of the many numerous sports on offer, you will find that Kitzbühel will cater for you.
Just to note, it is not just the winter sports that makes Kitzbühel standout. This Tirolean town is also known for its wonderful hospitality. There are 54 cosy romantic mountain huts to stop off at for lunch, or perhaps a warming schnapps and hot chocolate. And when you finish skiing for the day, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to award winning haute cuisine and lively après ski.
Kitzbühel is the combination of old meets new. Here you can shop in both spectrum from designer labels to local crafts. You are likely to spot a fancy sports car in the medieval old town as a horse-drawn carriage taking tourists on a tour, because Kitzbühel is a resort which is as much a celebrity hotspot, attracting everyone from elite skiers to free-riders and beginners.
Despite its popularity Kitzbühel is big enough to offer the best skiing and hospitality, it retains its charm thanks to its heritage and setting. Regarded as one of the most beautiful ski towns in Europe. Its pedestrianised streets inside the old city walls are lined with fashion boutiques and cafés, and the old coaching inns are converted into smart luxury hotels.
I recommend going tobogganing at night at the Gaisberg in Kirchberg, it's an exhilarating run down under the floodlights, and at the end, stop off at one of the mountain huts to finish the night off.